Large, full flower panicles make Hydrangea paniculata Renba a vivid summer shrub. New clusters begin pale green, open white, and deepen from the base upward through pink to rich red, often creating a two-tone display. Strong, dark reddish stems hold the heavy cone-shaped panicles upright.
This bushy, upright shrub works well as a hedge, privacy screen, flowering border, or courtyard feature. Its long-lasting flower heads are also useful for fresh or dried arrangements. Dark green ovate leaves frame the flowers and can turn red or purple in autumn.
Choose full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. Keep the soil reliably moist in full sun, apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring, and prune while dormant in late winter or early spring. The shrub flowers on current-season growth.
Contact may cause a skin allergy. The species is poisonous to humans and may be a problem for cats, dogs, and horses.
